Bernard Hecker

Funeral Mass for Bernard J. Hecker, 85, of Dickinson will be 2:00 p. m. Friday, March 28, 2008 at St. Joseph?s Catholic Church in Dickinson with Father Dennis Schafer celebrating. Burial will follow at St. Joseph?s Cemetery in Dickinson. Visitation will be from 9 a. m. to 9 p. m. Thursday, March 27, 2008 at Stevenson Funeral Home in Dickinson with Rosary and Vigil services taking place at 7:00 p. m. Ben passed away Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at St. Luke?s Home in Dickinson. Bernard J. Hecker was born August 20, 1922 in Dickinson, ND to Joseph C. and Wilhelmena (Wock) Hecker. He grew up on the family farm near New Hradec. He attended school at the area country school, as well as in New Hradec. After school he worked for several years on the family farm. It was during this time that he met and married Tillie Wanner in Dickinson at St Patrick?s Catholic Church. The couple made their home on a farm south of Belfield, and it was there that they raised their family of eight children. The couple remained on the farm until Ben and Tillie moved to Dickinson in 1991. Ben could often be found with his coffee group, visiting with his many friends. Ben and Tillie loved to dance and drove for miles to find area dances such as at St. Anthony?s and the Eagle?s Club. He really enjoyed the horses and cattle on his ranch, and especially enjoyed breaking teams of horses or playing with his donkey. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Tillie of Dickinson; three sons: Gary (Carlotta) Hecker of Billings, MT; Lee (Rhonda) Hecker of Dickinson, ND, Tim (Sandy) Hecker of New England, ND; three daughters: Darlene Neilan of Lincoln, NE, Linda (Frank) Yarker of Pierre, SD, Colette (Ken) Gatzke of Rapid City, SD; one daughter-in-law: Ruth Hecker of Denver, CO; four brothers: Tony (Betty) Hecker of Dickinson, ND, Pete (Bonnie) Hecker, Richardton, ND, Francis (Judy) Hecker, of Gladstone, ND, Christ (Shirley) Hecker, of Wichita, KS, Herman Hecker, of Dickinson, ND; two sisters: Marie Urbanec, of Omaha, NE, Marci (Frank) Krug of Idaho; seventeen grandchildren, seventeen great-granchildren, and one great-great grandchild. Ben is preceded in death by; two sons: Robert and Reggie; one son-in-law, Leo Neilan; one brother, Lawrence; one sister, Theresa Thordason, and one grandson, Ari Beach.


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Burial Date: March 28, 2008
Funeral Home Dickinson, ND

Funeral Mass: Friday; St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Dickinson, ND